How to split files among C: (OS) and D: (data)?

According to Microsoft, you cannot remap the actual Libraries. They are virtual links to data (which can be remapped or redirected)


Libraries have some good ideas or benefits but I hit a parent folder limit myself under Windows 7 so never really continued using them to their full benefit. Not sure if Windows 10 or 11 still has that limit or not.

There is no one-size-fits-all advice as I'm sure you can see from the many replies, however, there should be more than ample advice on how others are managing their systems. If you need additional help please ask.

One thing I like to do is for Internet downloads, change the browser's settings to point to a folder on a second partition or second internal drive or NAS drive, something more permanent than a USB drive.

AdvancedSetup said:

According to Microsoft, you cannot remap the actual Libraries.

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Where does it say that? You CAN remap/ redirect the location that they point to by default. You can also add multiple locations to each library, including cloud files.

AdvancedSetup said:

Libraries have some good ideas or benefits but I hit a parent folder limit myself under Windows 7 so never really continued using them to their full benefit. Not sure if Windows 10 or 11 still has that limit or not.

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What is the parent folder limit? The only limit is the size of the disk which the libraries point to.

abactuon said:

Buy 128gb SSD for Windows, 250gb for games, 1TB - archive.

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In today's world a 256gig drive would be small for gaming, especially if on is using a game manager like Stean or Origin.

I have my games on a 2TB SSD drive, and even there I don't have all my games installed, only my most liked and likely to play again games. That said, with Steam and Origin, you don't have to install every game to your local drive. Just download as needed, then remove as needed.

Anyway, depending on funds and what you want to do, you can install drives as needed. I have five SSDs in my system - 512gig NVME for OS, 1TB NVMe for photos, 2TB for games, 2TB for music/media, 1TB for local backups. The OS and all its folders and files are on a single drive. I simply move the data, not folders around.

Thats me.

TheMystic said:

Where does it say that? You CAN remap/ redirect the location that they point to by default. You can also add multiple locations to each library, including cloud files.


What is the parent folder limit? The only limit is the size of the disk which the libraries point to.

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Windows 7 - Library has a 50 Parent folder limit


I do not believe that Windows 10 or 11 has this parent folder limitation anymore but have not tested or investigated it to be sure.

Berton said:

To add, many programs will offer a Custom install but will also look for certain folders in a default location, moving them out of Users can complicate things.

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I have never had a problem moving the user folders to drive D and I've been doing it for years.

Dru2 said:

512gig NVME for OS

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Too much.

How can you ever have too much? ROFL

Windows 11 Home users don't get donations from Microsoft. We have to work somewhere.

For the price of a 980 Pro 500GB or a 870 Evo 500GB, you can`t go wrong. But I do agree, it is overkill for a OS drive.

abactuon said:

Windows 11 Home users don't get donations from Microsoft. We have to work somewhere.

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Who does?

I've officially worked for 45 years now, but SS didn't log my years as a teen or it would be more. I've worked 2 full time jobs for 30 of those 45 years.

Q. "My new desktop has a 250GB SSD for the OS and a 1TB HDD for data..."
I just meant that not everyone needs a supercomputer.